Bank benefits and Credit card reward programmes

Q: My question is that if there are points offered by Credit Card, can we use them or not? Are they haraam or Halaal?

Q: Few common bank related queries:

1) Zaid had a debit card with Conventional Bank International for many years. Later on the bank introduced a points system of rewarding the users of the debit card for the purchasers made with the card. The value of points awarded have no relationship with his bank balance and therefore its not given as a benefit of a loan made. The bank receives a commission from the supplier for every purchase made by the purchaser and in turn filters some of the benefits back to the purchaser via a points system. Will these points be permissible for the cardholder to use.

2) Some scholars view deposits held by the bank as qabda of amaan with the ijaazat of tasarruf. Does hazrat agree with this?

3) Is it permissible to accept gifts in general from banks.

Q: A month ago my dad bought a phone on credit card. And if we pay the money used within 54 days then no interest charged. However my dad couldn't pay and now the time period is over for no interest. So now next Friday according to him he will pay. But now is there any way of avoiding interest. He only bought a phone he uses and nothing else. Please help us out and tell us how can we get rid of this card.

Q: I would like to know what is the sha'ree ruling on e-bucks. Many family people use it and I want to show them the sha'ree ruling.

Q: A person chooses to deposit his additional cash in the bank for safe keeping due to safety concerns. He has no intention of loaning these funds to the bank. Will these funds still be treated as a loan to the bank if he has no intention of loaning it to the bank at the time of depositing?

Q: Whilst dealing with financial institutions (mainly banks), often we are invited to attend functions hosted by these institutions. Are we allowed to eat and drink the food that is served to us (the food is 100% halaal certified)? My question is not relating to the source of the food but the source of the money that paid for the function.

Q: Can you explain to me the reason why Ulamaa so severely condemn the earnings of banks? In today’s times, the majority of the wealth in banks is acquired through the deposits of people which are from halaal. Hence, if one leases out his property to a bank, the income should be halaal based on the principle that if 50% or more of one’s income is halaal and such a person has to give you a gift, you can accept it.

Q: With some bank accounts e.g. FNB platinum, access is gained to "slow" lounges in airports, where meals and rest etc can be taken. Is it permissible to use these lounges?

Q: I have read the fatwa regarding ebucks and I am interested in finding out about Diners card. Many of our Muslim brothers have a Diners card. It is like a credit card, which they pay a yearly fee for, and the benefits are that one can use Diners club lounges in airports throughout the world. In these lounges meals etc are available as well as lounge /resting facilities etc

Q: A person pays R 450.00 fixed bank charges a month. This fee entitles him to receive a cheque book, paper clips, bank packets, rubber bands and also covers other standard bank administration services.

1. May he use the cheque book, money packets, paper clips etc if the value does not exceed the R450.00 bank charges he paid.
2. If the value of these items exceed R450.00 p.m , may he utilise these items?